Window regulator



Ap 1933- s. w. NICHOLSON WINDOW REGULATOR Filed June 24 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l/YVENTOR flan/W MMs/m/sm A T TORNEY April 4, 1933- s. w. NICHOLSON 1,903,358

WINDOW REGULATOR Filed June 24, 1931 4 sheets-sheet 2 &

P Q IN VE N TOR AT TORNEV April 4, 1933.

S. W. NICHOLSON WINDOW REGULATOR Filed June 24. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 www INVENTOR E/EH/Ey W Mafia/5027 Br ATTORNEY April 4, 1933- s. w. NICHOLSON 1,903,358

WINDOW REGULATOR Filed June 24, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Will/7911113? g;

IN VE/V TOR Efaniay MMz/m/sm Br MW A T TORNEY Patented Apr. 4, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTFOFFIYCE STANLEY W. NICHOLSON, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO BRIGGS &

STRATTON CORPORATION, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE WINDOW REGULATOR This invention relates to window regulators and more particularly to a window regulator to which the window is rigidly fastened to move therewith.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a window regulator of the type herein described having a rack bar to operate the mechanism and a plurality of pinions for successively operating the rack bar.

In previous mechanisms of this type utilizing a plurality of pinions to operate a single rack, there has been a dead point past which the operating handle could not be turned.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the dead center point'usually encountered in this type of mechanism and provide free rotation for the handle at all points.

It is a further object of the invention to 29 provide a window regulator which will be adaptable to various shaped panes and prevent them from tipping during periods when they are unsupported on one or more sides.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated several complete examples of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best modes so fardevised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view partly in section, of an automobile door or the like showing the application of the present invention to a sliding trapezoidal automobile window Figure 2 is a cross section on the line of 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-' 3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a cross sectionon the line 44 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; v 7 r i Figure 5 is a detail showing the assembly of the window carrier with the regulator;

Figure 6 is a cross section on theline 6- 6 of Figure 3; t

Figure 7 is a detail showing the movable window frame and its means of attachmentto 66 tion to a window of a railway day coach or thelike; and p a Figure 10 is an elevational view partly in cross section of the modification shown in F1 'ure 9 V eferring to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the severalviews, and with particular reference to Figure 1, the window regulator, generally designated 20 may be mounted in a door or frame 21 of an automobile and connected to a window 22 through a channel 23 and a movable glass retainer 24. i L Referring to Figures 2 to 7 inclusive, for the details of the window regulator,it will be seen that the regulator is mounted on a plate 25 spaced from the inner side 26 of the door by sleeves, 27, there being screws 28 passing through the sleeves to make the connection.

Attached to the plate 25 is a channel 29. The channel has one side thereof out and bent fiat in a plane with the bottom of the channel as shown at 29a in Figure 6, for attachment to the plate 25; The plate 25 is bent up, as shown at 30, and bent parallel tothe bottom of the channel, as shown at 31, for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The plate 25 and the channel 29 are connected by suitable means such as spot welding, the plate '25 to the turned down edge 29a of the channel 29, or by equivalent means, the particular method of making the connection forming no part of the present invention.

The bent over portion 31 and the turned up portion 30 of the plate are cut away as shown at 33 and 34, to accommodate the teeth of pinions 36 and 37 respectively. The pinions 36 and 37 are operatively connected together by a bar 38 of-a length equal to the distance between the centers of the pinions 36 and 37 and pivotally connected to both pinions adjacent the edge thereof. The pinions 36 and 37 are driven by a second pair of .pinions 39 and 40 which are similarly connected by a bar 44. The bar 44 is similar in construction to the bar 38 but is displaced therefrom on the pinions 39 and 40 by an angle preferably (although not necessarily) ninety degrees.

A handle 45 rotates a stub shaft 41 carrying the gear 39 on the other end thereof. The shaft is mounted in a bearing-collar 42 between the frame 25 and the inside of the door 26, the collar 42 serving to space the members 25 and 26 as well as form a bearing for the shaft. The bearing 42 may be supported atone end by the plate 25 and at the other end by a flange 43 formed in a port in the member 26.

The arrangement of the bars 38 and 44 atan angle to each other permits the transmission of power from the handle 45 through the gear 39 hence either through the bar 44 to the gear 40 to the gear 37 or from the handle 45 to the gear 39 to the gear 36 through the bar 38 to the gear 37. It will be noted that this arrangement precludes the possibilityof a stop on dead center and permits the gears 36 to 40 to turn for all positions of the handle 45. p

Carried in the channel 29 beneath the projection 31 of the plate 25 is a rack bar 47. The rack bar 47 has a bracket 48 thereon spaced from the channel as shown in Figures 6 and 7, which carries the channel member 23, which in turn carries the glass retainer 24.

The members 23 and 24 may be spot welded or otherwise fixedly connected, the connection to the window regulator being made, as shown clearly in Figures 5, 6 and 7, by means of screws passing through the elongatedslots 43a and screwing to threads in the member :48 forming an adjustable joint between the window regulator and the window.

The glass is releasably secured in the glass retainer 24 by means of packing 50 of suit- I able nature. It will be noted at this point -that the glass is held rigidly in the retainer 24 and is kept from moving laterally by theframe support including the channel 29 and the rack bar 47 independently of the window casing. The arrangement of having two pinions 36 and 37 adapted to alternatively engage the rack 47 permits the use of a. rack bar but half the length of the travel of the window'. This effects considerable economy in space and permits the use of deeper section of glass. V a

It is obvious that more than two gears such as 36 and 37 could be used to advantage as in the modification illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, thus further reducing the necessary length of the rack.

The frame of the window may be padded in the usu'al'way to eliminate noise and rattles instant to the jarring of the window frame, this invention not concerning itself with particular means whereby the elimina tion of vibration is accomplished.

Suitable counter-balancing means such as springs may be employed to counter-balance the weight of the window pane, as will be hereinafter described.

The window regulating mechanism is shown in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, as being ofiset from the center of the pane. It is understood, however, that it may be located either centrally or eccentrically of the pane. Due to the fact that the window regulator may be placed where convenient, it is obvious that by the proper placing of the regulator unit, the handle may be located where most convenient on the inside of the door. If 1t 18 desired to place the regulator in any particular position, the handle 45 may still be placed where most convenient by the use of idler gears which may be'driven from a driving pinion .56 rotated from the handle 45 as clearly shown in Figure 8.

If desired, the window may be counterbalanced by any convenient means such as a spring 58 (shown in Figure 10). The spring 58 may comprise a spiral spring attached at the center thereof to any of the pinions or to the idler gear 55 and having the outer end thereof attached to the frame.

The form shown in Figures 9 and 10 may be used where there is limited head room available for the regulator and is shown here- 1n as bemg used in a railroad day coach or the l1ke.

It is obvious that the greater the number all of pinions used to drive the rack, the shorter L the rack will have to beto, raise the window a given height, and the less head room will be required to accommodate the regulator.

There is shown in Figures 9 and 10 a regulator mounted on a plate 59 having connected thereto a channel 59a. The plate 59 is bent over as shownat 67 to form aretaining member for the rack 7 O, as described heretofore. The bent over portions have aplurality of cut away portions 60 to accommodate the gears 6166, inclusive, which alternatively operate the rack 70. The pinions 61 to 66 are connected for simultaneous operation by a bar 71 pivotally connected to each of the pinions adjacent the periphery thereof The pinions 61 to 66, inclusive, inay be driven by a plurality of pinions 72 to 7 7 inclusive,

which have a similar link, pivotally connected to the pinions 72 to 77, inclusive, adjacent their. peripheries but offset at an angle, 39

preferably degrees, from the position of the link 71 on the pinions 61 to 66, inclusive.

It is obvious that it is not necessary to have six pinions 72 to 77, inclusive, for op erating the six pinions 61 to 66, inclusive, but pinions 72 and 7 3 alone would suffice to perform that function.

The handle 45 is connected with one of the two pinions 72 or 73; or an idlergear such as 55 shown in Figure 8 may be positioned between the gears 72 or 73 and the handle 45.

Springs 58 to counter-balance the weight of the window are herein shown as connected to the pinions 6-3 and 65 at their center and to the frame 59 at points 82 and 83. If desired other methods of counter-balancing may be used which are well known in the art.

The operation of the modification shown in Figures 9 and 10 is identical to that of the form shown in Figures 1 to 8, inclusive, and therefore no further explanation will be given.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In device of the character described, a frame, a window mounted in said frame for movement in the plane thereof, a window re ulator mounted in said frame having a part thereof adjustably connected to said window, means including a rack and .a pin of spaced pinions alternatively engageable with said rack to move said window, and a link connected at the opposite ends thereof to said pinions whereby one pinion is driven from the other pinion.

2. In a device of the character described, a frame, a window mounted in said frame and movable in the plane thereof, a window regulator mounted in said frame, means attached to said window and to a part of said regulator to permit movement of said window in one direction and to prevent movement in other directions, means for moving the window including a rack, a pair of spaced pinions operable from a common handle alternatively engaging said rack to move said window, and a link connected at the opposite ends thereof to said pinions whereby one pinion is driven from the other pinion.

3. In a window regulator of the class described, a plate, means supported from said plate to carry 'a rack bar, spaced pinions mounted on said plate to alternatively engage said rack bar, a link connected at the opposite ends thereof to said pinions whereby one pinion is driven from the other pinion, and means to adj ustably support a window from said rack. V

4. In a window regulator of the class described, a plate, a housing supported from said plate, a rack bar mounted in said housing, means to support a window from the rack bar, a first pair of pinions mounted on said plate alternatively engageable to drive said rack, means connecting said pinions to drive one pinion from the other, a second pair of pinions mounted on said plateand engageable with said first pair of pinions re spectively, and means connecting said second pair of pinions to drive one of said pinions from said other pinion.

5. In a window regulator of the class de-' scribed including a plate, a rack bar supported from said plate, a window carried by the rack bar, a pair of spaced pinions rotatably mounted on said plate successively engageable with the rack bar to actuate thesame, a bar joining said pinions to turn one of said pinions from said other pinion, a third pinion mounted on said plate and engageable with one of said pinions, and a handle connected to said third pinion to rotate said pair of pinions from said third pinion. V r

6. In a window regulator of the character described, a. rack bar, meansto support a window from said rack bar, pinions adapted to successively engage and drive the rack bar,

crank pins on said pinions, a rod connecting the crank pins,'and a second driving means to assist the connecting rod at dead center.

7 In a. window regulator of the character described,a window, a rack bar, means to support said window from said rack bar, a pair of pinions alternatively engageable with said rack bar to cause movement thereof, whereby said window is raised or lowered, a rod connecting said pinions adjacent the outer edge thereof forming means to drive one of said pinions from the other said pinion, a second rod apted to transmit motion to said first named pinion to assist the first'rod at points of dead center, and means to drive said second rod in a'corresponding motion to said first rod. 3

8. In a window regulator of the character described, a window, a rack bar, means to connect said window to said rack bar for movement therewith, a first pinion and a sec.- ond pinion spaced from each other, said pinions being alternatively engageable with said rack bar to effect movement of said window, means to drive said second pinion from said first pinion, a third pinion engageable with said second pinion, and means to drive said third pinion in conformance with said second pinion to assist the driving means between said first and second pinions at points of dead center.

9. In a window regulatorof the character described, a rack bar, a first and a second pinion spaced from each other and alternatlvely engageable with said rack bar to effect movement of the same, means to drive said second pinion from said first pinion, a third pinion and a fourth pinion in driving engagement with said first and second pinions respectively, means to drive said fourth pinion from said third pinion, said last named driv ing means having a point of dead center at'a difi'erent' point from that of said first named driving means whereby said first named driving means is assisted over the point of dead center by said second named driving means,

and means toefiect movement of said third pinion to drive said rack bar. 7 v

10. In a. window regulator of the character described, a window, a. rack bar, means to connect said window to said rack bar for movement therewith, a first pinion and a sec- 7 0nd pinion spaced from each other, said pinions'being alternatively engageable with said rack bar to efiiect movement of said window, a, connecting rod connected to said pinions adjacent their outer periphery to drive said second pinion from saidfirst pinion, a third pinion engageable with said second pinion, and means to drive said third pinion in conformance With said second pinion to assist the connecting rod in driving the second pinion at points of dead center.

11. In a window regulator of the character described, a rack bar, a first and a second pinion spaced from each other and alternatively engageable with said rack bar to efiect movement of the same, a connecting rod connected to said pinions adjacent their outer periphery to drive'said second pinion from said first pinion, a third pinion and a fourth pinion in driving engagement with said first and second pinions respectively, a connecting rod connecting said third and fourth pinions adjacent the outer periphery thereof to drive said fourth pinion from said third pinion, said last named connecting rod having a point of dead center at a different point from that of said first named connecting rod whereby said first named connecting rod is assisted over the point of dead center by said second named connecting rod, and means to effect movement of said third named pinion to drive said rack bar.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto atfixed my signature. i

STANLEY W. NICHOLSON. 

